First Attempt...

My first SLR ever (Canon Rebel XT). I got it for a really great price and it came with a 55mm lens and also a UV filter. The shot taken below was with the 55mm and auto focus. I recently found out out to switch that to manual

Critiques greatly appreciated because I obviously want o get better.

http://images39.fotki.​com …7/788144/636573​8/Audi.jpg

Exif Data:
Make: Canon
Model: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
Width: 3456 pixels
Height: 2304 pixels
Focal Length: 39.0 mm
F-Number: F/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.125 sec. 1/8
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
ISO Speed: 200
Flash Mode: Off

Nothing wrong with auto focus, I use it all the time

It's not a bad image, but I think if the audi symbol is the point of focus you might want to move out a bit so it's not so side on. I keep looking at the image and wanting the S4 part to be in focus as it's easier to see...

Welcome to the forum though!

souporman wrote in post #5737264
Nothing wrong with auto focus, I use it all the time

It's not a bad image, but I think if the audi symbol is the point of focus you might want to move out a bit so it's not so side on. I keep looking at the image and wanting the S4 part to be in focus as it's easier to see...

Welcome to the forum though!

I was actually aiming for BOTH to be focused in. I was told by my friend (who is a better photographer than I) that it happened that way because I had auto focus turned on. He told me to try it again using manual focus but I just haven't had the time. Plus I need a tripod badly since most of the shots I am practicing are at dusk/night.

Thanks for the positive reply, I was actually thinking I was going to get the n00b flame.

You don't necessarily need to rely on manual focus. I've found it quite useful to use a single auto focus point. You just use it to focus on what you want and then recompose the picture (i.e. use center point, aim it at what you want to focus on and then turn a bit to get what you want in the picture). Be careful not to move too much though, especially if you are wide open, you can throw off the focus since you might have a small depth of field.

I trust the camera AF more than my 4 eyes.

SexyDSM95 wrote in post #5737507
I was actually aiming for BOTH to be focused in. I was told by my friend (who is a better photographer than I) that it happened that way because I had auto focus turned on. He told me to try it again using manual focus but I just haven't had the time. Plus I need a tripod badly since most of the shots I am practicing are at dusk/night.

Thanks for the positive reply, I was actually thinking I was going to get the n00b flame.

Don't worry, not much of that around here as people are pretty friendly.

I'm not sure manual focus would have helped much here anyways, the area of the photo that's in focus is pretty narrow though you might have been able to squeeze it all in.

Do you happen to remember what shooting mode your camera was in at the time (where was the dial at the top set too)? If it was in full auto (set to the green box) then there isn't much you could have done to change the settings but if it was in one of the other "creative" modes you can adjust things around to get more of the photo in focus.

The XT was my pretty much my first DSLR too, it's a good little camera

souporman wrote in post #5737695
Don't worry, not much of that around here as people are pretty friendly.

I'm not sure manual focus would have helped much here anyways, the area of the photo that's in focus is pretty narrow though you might have been able to squeeze it all in.

Do you happen to remember what shooting mode your camera was in at the time (where was the dial at the top set too)? If it was in full auto (set to the green box) then there isn't much you could have done to change the settings but if it was in one of the other "creative" modes you can adjust things around to get more of the photo in focus.

The XT was my pretty much my first DSLR too, it's a good little camera

Sorry I forgot to post up my EXIF data. I believe the camera was in AV mode, auto focus, 55mm lens, my ISO was set to 400 as well. I have the original picture at home which I can upload to Fotki and re-host.

My friend who is helping me out suggests that for now I use the non-manual modes (landscape, green box, etc.) until I get more comfortable with the controls and manual options. I honestly feel that my biggest drag is going to be how I set up the picture. I am so use to shooting center/straight on and I know in this hobby/game that is boring.

No worries. I didn't want to ask for exif as I wasn't sure just how comfortable you are will all that stuff yet, but you seem to have a handle on the basics

I bounce back and forth between AV & M, but spent most of my first year in AV so it's definitely a good place to start. I don't think you need to rely on the pre-programmed modes if you're happy changing apertures/iso/etc.

souporman wrote in post #5738145
No worries. I didn't want to ask for exif as I wasn't sure just how comfortable you are will all that stuff yet, but you seem to have a handle on the basics

I bounce back and forth between AV & M, but spent most of my first year in AV so it's definitely a good place to start. I don't think you need to rely on the pre-programmed modes if you're happy changing apertures/iso/etc.

The only real things I have played with (and understood) is the ISO. I think my best bet would be to read that nice mega manual that came with the camera. There are many options on there that I have yet to grasp the concept of (i.e. the dial near the shoot button that ranges from 40-200 I think? on the display screen).

Thanks for the help so far and the critiques I really appreciate it.

Hi! This is my first ever post so i thought i'd do it on your thread!

I'm learning too, but it looks to me like you shot this with a quite shallow depth of field. Now I don't want to teach you to suck eggs so please tell me to zip it if so!

With your camera in aperture priority mode (Av) try setting the f-stop slightly higher. If it was about 5.6 and you were quite close to the car it may have led to only a thin slice of the shot being in focus. Try an f-stop of around 8 or 9 and the camera should sort out the exposure by itself. With the lens in auto-focus, initially focus the camera on the S4 logo. Keep the button held half way down and move the camera how you want it to frame the shot, then take it. The increased f-stop (smaller aperture) should bring more of the frame into focus!

It's easier than it sounds, but basically about playing around until you get the right result. Hope this helps!

thebeatnut,
Thanks for your response but you have to remember I am very much a n00b not only to this forum, but SLR's as well. I will reference the guide because as of right now I am unsure what you mean by "f-stop" and if that relates to my Canon XT.

No probs!! I expect once you've had a read of the guide and the glossary it'll all start to fit into place! I'll tell you one thing though... great fun learning isn't it! Good luck

When you say a 55mm lens.... Do you mean the 18-55mm? You could have gotten a much larger depth of field by getting closer and shooting at 18mm. In the same way a large aperture affects depth of field, focal length does too.

Honestly, when I was starting out this book helped me out loads (and it's highly recommended on this site)

Understanding Exposure

It's not a reference link, I really do think it's a good book

SexyDSM95 wrote in post #5737081
I recently found out out to switch that to manual

You may possibly have misunderstood your friend's advice on focusing. On that camera, auto focusing is always better than manual focusing. It has to do with the type of focusing screen that the camera has. I think that the best focusing advice is to set the camera so that it uses only the center focus point rather than letting the camera automatically choose the focus points. When the camera automatically chooses the focus points, you do not know for certain what the camera will pick, but typically it will be something in the scene that has the highest contrast sharp edge whether that is what you want or not.

bill boehme wrote in post #5740533
You may possibly have misunderstood your friend's advice on focusing. On that camera, auto focusing is always better than manual focusing. It has to do with the type of focusing screen that the camera has. I think that the best focusing advice is to set the camera so that it uses only the center focus point rather than letting the camera automatically choose the focus points. When the camera automatically chooses the focus points, you do not know for certain what the camera will pick, but typically it will be something in the scene that has the highest contrast sharp edge whether that is what you want or not.

I agree with this. I believe your friend meant to "manually" select which focus point to use. The lens should be in Autofocus with the choice of focus points.

Also, Stopping down to at least f11 would probably give you enough depth of field to get the emblems sharp. On the other hand, I think having the "S4" being the main point-of-interest (being, its red too) would be the ticket. Letting the Audi logo slightly blur out. You could achieve this using something like f5.6 or f8.0. Of course, you might want a tripod when you retake this.

Aloha,
John